The Wey Valley Rural Art Project

• Recycle by Design
• exhibitions
• WVRAP projects

How it all started: comments by project leader Caroline Jackman

In 2002 I wanted to find out more about public arts funding. The local farming industry is very close to my heart, and I wanted to create a project that could bring my two passions together, farming and art. I brought together a team and we came up with the Wey Valley Rural Art Project. It was to raise the profile of the farming industry through visual arts.

We sought funding from Arts Council, England, Surrey County Council, Surrey Hills and Guildford Borough Council, to create a concept that would result in a public sculpture, workshops for Primary Schools and a public exhibition. The workshops were designed to encourage children to develop new creative skills using a variety of materials, learn about farming and the countryside whilst having fun. We also organized a public exhibition to raise public awareness of the W.V.R.A.P. as well as displaying many of the children’s finished workshop pieces.

Promotion of this project has played an important role in raising the awareness of our aims. Surrey Hills ANOB played a vital part in this promotion by inviting us to bring the WVRAP to the Surrey County Show and the Country Fair at Loseley. This was a fantastic opportunity in which we gained a lot of publicity and also managed more successful fundraising efforts.

In 2003 we sought further funding from the Arts Council, England and Awards for All, to run Summer Creative Workshops. These were aimed at 5-16 year olds. Spread over 3 weeks, the children were able to experiment with a variety of media, develop their own creative skills and learn more about farming and the countryside. These were a great success and something that I hope to continue with in the future.

Fundraising has been a major part of my role in this project. One of the most successful ideas, which have brought many of you here today, was to buy a part of the bull. With all of our efforts and peoples kind generosity, we managed to raise over £15,000, which has seen the completion of the WVRAP. I would especially like to thank all of those who have given up their time to offer us guidance and advice and of course financial support. In particular I wish to thank Michael More Molyneux who gave us the opportunity to site the sculpture on this land.'

With Special thanks to our steering group:

Jackie Jackman, Tammy Wood, Jean Bridger, Tucker Anderson and Janice Cahill

With thanks for support from:

Christian Taylor, John Hopper, Ian Perry, Les Hills, Richard Chittenden, George Longland, Kay Munt, Emma Waters, Charlie Garner, Denise Neill, Sarah Lowe, Hayley Albrecht, Manor Saddlery, Taurus Wines, Whipley Manor Farm, Sculpt It, Cartwright Consulting, Grant Thornton, Scats Countrystores (Godalming), Godfreys of Horsham, Colin Swait at Hampton's International, Chester Boyd, Secretts at Milford and Seymours